The Shibutanis Thread 4: Ready for Paradise

[Rukia]

Got to watch them. It was gorgeous. The slight reworking they did helped a ton I think. The program really builds much better now. More than that though, they were really into it. You can see their passion for this program, and that helps so much. I'm so excited for them!

 

[MRani]

I got to watch live this time! Totally worth it. I enjoyed it so much more this time compared to RC. The second half really brought the fire this time around. I had my doubts about reusing the Fix You lift but when I saw it in the program I got really emotional. Something about that particular lift just really gets me. Superb skate from the Shibs and very encouraging scores!

I’m truly amazed by what they’ve accomplished even with such a tough technical panel. Their mental strength is just phenomenal. Mrs. P was right, all the adversity they’ve had to face to get to where they are now has made them the team they currently are and is probably part of why they’re so strong now.

 

[kittyjake5]

Congrats to the Shibs! Love the changes they made to the second half.
The passion and their superior technique that they bring to this dance is for me Paradise!
Choked me up.

 

[Mrs. P]

So how many times have you watched the FD today? I'm restarting for view No. 3.

 

[Dobre]

They are on their way, guys! That was gorgeous today. Keep working, Maia and Alex. Keep climbing. And fly.

 

[VGThuy]

Like Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy (Blue, White, and Red), I think when I speak about the Shibs' trilogy as a whole, I'm going to call it the Shib's Three Colors trilogy or "Black, Blue, and Red".

 

[Mrs. P]

That color trilogy is like Pokemon, except the Shib version! The Pokemon game titles are around themes of color and celestial beings (Sun, Moon, etc.)

So after the ShibSibs2k18: Tech Panel Domination, I'll release the Blue, White and Red ShibsibsXPokemon game series. They can hire BTS to do the theme music.

I'm terrible, I know. I do like the color trilogy analogy. It's kind of reflective of their career and the mood of those programs. .... Melancholy, Cerebral and then finally Passion/Joy

 

[teacakes]

Looking at their protocols I was almost blinded by the goe (and they still have a higher ceiling for when, not if, they hit their levels in the step sequence.

 

[VGThuy]

Fumie Suguri is a fan of the Shibs' SD:

https://twitter.com/fumiesuguri/status/934882805506441216

 

[Anyasnake]

Looking at their protocols I was almost blinded by the goe (and they still have a higher ceiling for when, not if, they hit their levels in the step sequence.

They might have a lot of GOEs already, but they have a 3 points margin, they have to get them.
If they had just one level4 today they would have had a 116.57 FD. Of course they have to hit that level, but that gives you an idea.
Again, I'm all for not picking too early. I'm actually glad that non of the top teams got a full-on level 4 FD.

The Shibs are so clever though : They have had a month to readjust their programs, work on basic skills and physical condition, so that they wouldn't need a senior B. Then their last GP is in America, close to where they live, so they just have to go home and train the day after without any jetlag. Since we saw today, they are in a GPF-ready condition, so they "just" have to polish everything and get those levels.
Clever people. I'm impressed

 

[MRani]

The CBC commentators are killing me with their insistence that this is their 3rd straight year skating to Coldplay literally while they’re showing a replay of last season’s Evolution FD complete with the Spiegel im spiegel music playing

 

[VGThuy]

I just tweeted CBC about it telling them to stop saying that.

Anyway, the commentators had nice things to say about them otherwise and here is a cute interview CBC did with Alex and Maia at Skate America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GZjGmIAXLY

Love how they asked Maia what strengths she brought to the table and she spent that time talking about how great Alex was and Alex called her out on it.

 

[Spun Silver]

I just tweeted CBC about it telling them to stop saying that.

Anyway, the commentators had nice things to say about them otherwise and here is a cute interview CBC did with Alex and Maia at Skate America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GZjGmIAXLY

Love how they asked Maia what strengths she brought to the table and she spent that time talking about how great Alex was and Alex called her out on it.

That was adorable. The way the interviewers responded gives me hope that the whole world will be looking at baby pix from the SFA (Shib Fam Archive) come January and February, and March.

 

[MRani]

I just tweeted CBC about it telling them to stop saying that.

Anyway, the commentators had nice things to say about them otherwise and here is a cute interview CBC did with Alex and Maia at Skate America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GZjGmIAXLY

Love how they asked Maia what strengths she brought to the table and she spent that time talking about how great Alex was and Alex called her out on it.

Ok for giving us that interview I guess I forgive them

 

[clairecloutier]

Just caught up with the dance event, and I'm honestly stunned at how good the Shibs were! in this competition, they were the best I've ever seen them. Both programs just amazing. The new personal-best overall score is well-deserved.

There were so many wow moments in this free dance! Just captivating to watch. They really had me, and I loved the emotion and freedom of it.

This is the most purely exciting FD I've seen this season. From anyone.

 

[Spun Silver]

I think they’ve pretty much put that “no speed, no power” line to rest. People are gonna have to come up with something else. No chemistry? Ha. Try that on the audience. Any audience.

 

[VGThuy]

Over the holidays, Alex should exercise his video editing skills and do Criterion Collection style "three reasons" trailers for the past three FDs in the trilogy. He already did somewhat of a homage to art films with their "I Wish You Were Real" video starring Javi and Alex (with behind the camera work from Alex, Maia, and Mirai). I love the adjectives @Mrs. P used to describe each one (melancholy, cerebral, passion/joy).

To see what I'm talking about:

Blue

White

Red

 

[chapis]

Omg, it was soooooooooo good, a lot better than I was expecting, I got goosebumps , their twizzles!!!, and then the lift, that lift!!! I sewar, I watched absolutely all the skaters, all the programs at Skate America, and that lift was the most impressive element of the whole event, my heart stopped for a moment, lol, the speed while they are doing it is incredible, I guess their parents cant see it live, a mistake with that speed would be . The audience was amazing too. When they got their scores my mom said, "It should always be that way, that there is no doubt who is the winner", sorry, she got a little confused with Nathan winning and Satoko first place after the SP (I don't need say how offended I was with that comment because I love Satoko!!, lol), but Maia and Alex were the obvious winners for her.

 

[Spun Silver]

Over the holidays, Alex should exercise his video editing skills and do Criterion Collection style "three reasons" trailers for the past three FDs in the trilogy. He already did somewhat of a homage to art films with their "I Wish You Were Real" video starring Javi and Alex (with behind the camera work from Alex, Maia, and Mirai). I love the adjectives @Mrs. P used to describe each one (melancholy, cerebral, passion/joy).

To see what I'm talking about:

Blue

White

Red

Yeah but to me black doesn’t fit Fix You that neatly. It had red too. And it was not just sad, the whole emphasis was on the support that he/singer/Alex provided her/Maia/abstract “you” in her time of need. So what could have been tragic was actually positive, hopeful and strong. That was the power of that program.

 

[Spun Silver]

Omg, it was soooooooooo good, a lot better than I was expecting, I got goosebumps , their twizzles!!!, and then the lift, that lift!!! I sewar, I watched absolutely all the skaters, all the programs at Skate America, and that lift was the most impressive element of the whole event, my heart stopped for a moment, lol, the speed while they are doing it is incredible, I guess their parents cant see it live, a mistake with that speed would be . The audience was amazing too. When they got their scores my mom said, "It should always be that way, that there is no doubt who is the winner", sorry, she got a little confused with Nathan winning and Satoko first place after the SP (I don't need say how offended I was with that comment because I love Satoko!!, lol), but Maia and Alex were the obvious winners for her.

I watched very nearly all the skaters and programs and I felt the same way. That lift seemed twice as fast as it did last season. I know that is not possible but it was faster for sure. Their performance really shook me. I’m glad your mother went and loved them so much. You and she must have had some funny conversations.

 

[Bellanca]

Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! Maia and Alex!

Go upset and crush the heck out of that preconceived notion of another ice dance team being the shoo-in for Olympic gold. Go out there and get it for yourselves, prove the predictors wrong! You have all the talent that you'll ever need, right now.

Go Shibs, GO!!

 

[VGThuy]

Yeah but to me black doesn’t fit Fix You that neatly. It had red too. And it was not just sad, the whole emphasis was on the support that he/singer/Alex provided her/Maia/abstract “you” in her time of need. So what could have been tragic was actually positive, hopeful and strong. That was the power of that program.

It's like an anti-tragedy. It had all the ingredients of one, but it is actually uplifting and ends on a optimistic high.

 

[MRani]

Over the holidays, Alex should exercise his video editing skills and do Criterion Collection style "three reasons" trailers for the past three FDs in the trilogy. He already did somewhat of a homage to art films with their "I Wish You Were Real" video starring Javi and Alex (with behind the camera work from Alex, Maia, and Mirai). I love the adjectives @Mrs. P used to describe each one (melancholy, cerebral, passion/joy).

To see what I'm talking about:

Blue

White

Red

I love this idea and I wish it could get passed along to them somehow. I really want them to do it (or for someone else with similar video editing skills to do it if the Shibs don’t have time). It would be such a great way to cement the 3 free dances as an actual trilogy for posterity.

 

[gk_891]

They now have some good momentum by winning 2 grand prix competitions. I hope they can continue this into the GPF and challenge the two favourites.

 

[Mrs. P]

@chapis, I just saw your fan can of the FD. Very cool! Lots of great ice coverage on all elements....they really filled out the rink!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMa4h5rkv7s

 

[suki]

@chapis, I just saw your fan can of the FD. Very cool! Lots of great ice coverage on all elements....they really filled out the rink!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMa4h5rkv7s

Chapis, cinematographer extraordinaire! But why no pictures of you and your mom?

 

[Spun Silver]

Chapis, cinematographer extraordinaire! But why no pictures of you and your mom?

Was that your mom who yelled WOO when they glided by?

 

[VGThuy]

Oh, and congrats to the Shibs for breaking 57 in PCS at Skate America FD. They were close at 2017 Four Continents, but now they broke through that barrier. Here's looking to breaking more personal records.

 

[MRani]

Oh, and congrats to the Shibs for breaking 57 in PCS at Skate America FD. They were close at 2017 Four Continents, but now they broke through that barrier. Here's looking to breaking more personal records.

When I saw their FD score I remember wondering if they’d ever gotten 57 in PCS before. Awesome that they keep bursting through barriers people think they’ll never even reach in the first place.

 

[VGThuy]

When I saw their FD score I remember wondering if they’d ever gotten 57 in PCS before. Awesome that they keep bursting through barriers people think they’ll never even reach in the first place.

About this time, two seasons ago, people thought the Shibs would be dumped by the judges. It's amazing how they turned things around for themselves.